Chapter 5: The Fourth Member

Zhou Qi passed through various office cubicles. There was a kind of eerie silence floating within the office halls. He looked around and found it too empty. The usual hassle and noise from the boisterous officers were gone. He felt a chill, a cold wind swanned through his arms, making him shiver.

Only a few policemen were walking around. With their heads bowed heads, they were printing some kind of letter. After printing, they would put it in a big envelope. They were working as if they were dead.

Zhou Qi couldn't help but call out to them. "Break time?"

The officers raised their heads and nodded with a blank face. Then returned to what they were doing, ignoring the loan shark. Not even a smile spared for the poor friendly neighborhood gangster.

Zhou Qi scratched his head after receiving such a dull response. With a wry smile, he moved his feet. He counted the number of tiles on the way. His mind bustling and processing information.

Soon, Zhou Qi heard two growls coming from inside a door. There was a signboard written 'Interrogation Room'. It was a shouting match.

Zhou Qi face-palmed, his friend was too headstrong for her good. He touched his stubbed face, thinking if he should knock or not.

He wondered if it's a good idea to enter now. Zhou Qi couldn't help but release a sigh. "Sasa."

Zhou Qi opened the door like a brave soldier entering the battlefield. He was like a fresh recruit who knows he's mere cannon fodder.

With a crooked smile, he entered. His steps were steady. He was like a sheep in front of the wolves.

Zhou Qi saw two ladies inside roaring at each other. If their eyes could kill, the two ladies would have already killed each other. They were on each other's throats.

Upon entering, the two ladies shifted their heads at Zhou Qi. Their eyebrows scrunched up like a fierce lion. Ready to bite at any moment.

"What!?"

"Eh, I'm here to pick up, Sasa."

Sasa was a short-haired lady wearing a black rider cloth smiled. Her hair was glossy black. Upon seeing the new visitor, she stood up from her chair.

She looked at Zhou Qi, pouting. "Boss, get me out of here. I hate this old lady."

On the other hand, the Lieutenant was a cool red-haired beauty. The lady officer was wearing a flowing beige trenched coat. She was sitting on her boss's chair with arms folded.

"Long time no see Lieutenant."

"Long time no see my ass! You were just here a week ago." Her eyebrows twitching as he glared at the loan shark. "Care to explain what your friend is doing in the field?! She almost got killed there."

She eyed Zhou Qi as if waiting for an explanation.

Zhou Qi looked at the short-haired Sasa, scrutinizing her.

"Sasa."

Sasa lowered her face with a hump. Her bangs were covering her expression. Not willing to explain her side.

Sigh.

Zhou Qi looked at the Lieutenant. "Can I bring her out?"

"Fine bring her out. I don't even care about this ungrateful brat!" The Lieutenant moved her gaze, ignoring the sulking Sasa. "Anyway, are you sure about the info?"

"Meth, Cracks, and your usual poisons. The freaks are lurking around, trying to take territory from my bar business."

The police officer took note of the first part. Only rolling her eyes on the second part. No one's going to take your bar! The owners were too dangerous for anyone in the city.

"You'll join tonight?"

"Yes. We can't make those guys live."

The police officer scoffed at Zhou Qi. Even though, she knew that this guy was an underground gang boss. He was a unique law-abiding gang boss.

Though he was known as a loan shark, Zhou Qi's loan offers were very reasonable. Some businessmen even treat it as something better than the banks. They rather go to Zhou Qi than the big banks.

The loan shark only hates fools who ran away and default on their payment. Those who ran away from their responsibility.

The Lieutenant also knew that this man in front of her only enters legal businesses. Aside from his bars, this man also owns a legit information center. The interesting thing about them was they hate lawbreakers.

This gangster boss' bar was even named "Law".

It would even make criminals think twice before entering the place. After all, their name too judicious to anyone who hears it.

The heck! What kind of gangster would even name his bar, Law?

The name itself reeks of justice.

Aside from those, this mysterious man also have other identities. An anti-zealot mercenary. A man who loved taking missions and commissions from her office.

This guy had enough strength to kill several zealots who managed to infiltrate into the slums. In short, he protected both civilians and refugees alike. Though not known to many, the higher-ups had given him some awards and accolades. This enabled him to start his unique bar business.

Zhou Qi pulled the lady called Sasa, waving his hand to the police officer. He strode to the door, ready to go home. "Send me a message on what time. With enough pay, I'll do my best to lower your casualties."

"10000."

"What."

Zhou Qi stopped from his tracks. Swinging his head, he turned around 180 degrees, a big smile appearing on his face.

"For each head."

"Are you really sure about this Lieutenant Chu?"

Walking to the nearby cabinet, Lieutenant Chu's hair swayed and waved. She pulled out a stack of files before returning to her seat again. "With great risk lies the great reward. I can't be known as some who sends people to their deaths for a measly sum."

Hearing the words of Officer Chu, Zhou Qi's cheeky grin disappeared.

"That serious."

Lieutenant Chu put the stack of paper into a brown envelope. With a swish of her long coat, she threw the envelope to Zhou Qi. "I already lost 20 men. That serious!"

The loan shark whipped his head. "Sasa, is that true?"

The short-haired girl raised her head and looked at the eyes of Zhou Qi. With a hum, she confirmed before turning her head away.

"Your friend over there almost died along with my men. She only managed to escape after I provided cover."

"Tha-."

"Save your thanks, I'd rather have you help to wipe out those bastards. Those pests are not ordinary civilians or goons. I suspect that some of them are former mercs."

Zhou Qi reached out for his chin. "Heh, interesting. Is it fine if I check them out?"

"Fine, but don't alert them. Anyway, bring that growling lady away before I shoot her myself."

"Try me! You old lady!"

Lieutenant Chu only gave Sasa a scoff, she then bashed the table. "As if you're younger, we're of the same age brat!"

Zhou Qi checked the ruffled brown envelope. He took a simple glimpse at a few files. He then looked at the fuming officer. Then, he nodded.

"I'll check everything. See ya later."

"Wait!"

"There's also a lot of missing people cases. Maybe you could look at it."

"On my turf?"

"Not only in the slums. It's scattered around the whole Trent. I believe it's not an isolated case. I'll pay if you find any useful information."

"I'll get Fatty to check after your case."

Not wasting any time, Zhou Qi pulled Sasa outside, waving goodbye with his other hand. The eyes of lieutenant Chu followed them up to the door.

The front desk officer also looked at their backs with a strange face. Even so, he didn't stop them since his Boss had let them go. Anyway, he couldn't even stop one of them if they really want to go home.

The two walked side by side, the hands of Zhou Qi holding the arms of Sasa. After reaching a few meters outside, he released her arms.

He stopped and faced this fierce friend of his.

"Wanna grab a bite?"

Sasa went silent for a moment, refusing to reply. Unfortunately, the grumbling sounds of her stomach betrayed her.

"I want DFC and soda."

"That's a bit costly, but well if you wish so."

The two arrived at the DFC store. The rise of the void gates had caused the prices of food to inflate. Even DFC stores now were considered as a luxury. Food for rich people only. Zhou Qi ordered two DFC chicken with gravy sauce and two sodas.

Zhou Qi took a bite and chewed slowly. The delicious gravy dripped from his lips. As of now, a single DFC chicken + soda combo had cost them 20,000 Zeals. A luxury indeed.

He remembered the times when his parents and his sister were still alive. Their family treated eating here as a family bonding. It was one of his treasured memories

After the void shocks, countries suffered great economic setbacks. Their various currencies losing their buying power due to inflation and lack of supply. With their supply gone, a lot of businesses fell due to riots and financial difficulties.

Soon, the wielders appeared and solved the issue, a new unified currency. Scrapping the currencies of the remaining countries around the world.

All countries accepted the new change of currency. It was a type of paper money made from a unique ink of an octopus-like zealot. They named it 'Zeals'. They also added a lot of security details to assure no counterfeit money would rise.

This money was the only currency accepted by wielders. This brought power to the currency. If someone plans to buy carcasses of zealots from them, they must have Zeals in their pockets.

In the eyes of businessmen, a zealot's body was like a chest of treasures. They were effective ingredients in medicine, smiting, infrastructure, and many more. So, there's a giant demand for them.

Although, the zealots killed a lot of people. It was undeniable that it also opened a new door for commerce. Their bodies stabilized the falling economies, a saving grace after the void shocks. The wars caused by the wielders were even worse than the voids shocks themselves.

Still, Zhou Qi hated the zealots. The beast killed his father in front of their eyes. Although, the zealots did not cause the death of mother and sister.

Their existence had awoken the worst dregs of humankind.

Greed, wrath, selfishness, envy, slaughter, human trafficking, and other types of injustice. In one sense, some men became worse than the monsters they feared.

Zhou Qi looked at the ghost-hungry Sasa. The short-haired lady didn't act like a lady at all. She was holding the DFC chicken as if it was going to run away. Oil-grease covered her lips. Sucking the chicken up to its bones. The way she eats will definitely make you hungry.

"Done?"

Picking up the soda, Sasa looked at the man in front of him. Her eyes were snarling. "Zhou Qi, do I look like I'm done?"

With an awry smile, Zhou Qi waited. He wanted to make sure that Sasa would sip the soda to its last drop before he talks. No one wants to fight with a hungry lady.